New York State Announces $5 Million Clean Energy Competition

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state has launched a clean energy competition that will award up to $5 million for the most forward-thinking energy efficiency projects upstate.

The Five Cities Energy Plans initiative is aimed at lowering electricity costs and combating climate change in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and Yonkers.

Applications are due in January and will be evaluated on energy savings and cost-effectiveness, relevance to a city's energy plan, shovel-readiness, re-investment of savings and innovation.

Successful applications are eligible for up $500,000 in funding per project, and cities may submit multiple projects. The cities will receive state-funded technical support to hire energy managers and analysts to design energy plans.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the competition on Friday.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]